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I’ve been looking at more flashlights this past year, and am even testing a few. One thing they’ve all had in common was a flashing or strobe mode. Previously, the closest thing I’d ever had to this was a flashlight with a separate momentary-on button — presumably for signaling — so this was a new feature to me.

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I can say without a doubt that I absolutely hate this function. It seems ludicrous to me that I have to cycle through a strobing mode to get from one mode to the next.

Although, if you are going to include a strobe mode, one “flashlight” I’ve tested actually gets it right. Milwaukee’s M18 Search Light, reviewed here, has a separate mode button that cycles through flood, spot, and combined modes. Only if you hold the button down for a long press does it go into strobe mode.

Note: Don’t view the following if you’re sensitive to flashlight lights.

Click for Strobe Example

The flashlight I’m currently testing, Milwaukee’s USB rechargeable 700 Lumen flashlight, gets it spectacularly wrong. The on/off button is the same button you use to switch between high, low, and strobe mode.

To turn it on and off you fully depress the button, and to change modes you depress the button halfway. The problem is that I’ve been using it outside in the cold, cold Minnesota winter. While wearing heavy mittens, I have a hard time distinguishing between a half and full press. So I end up putting the flashlight into strobe mode more often than I’d like (which is NEVER).

I did some searching to try and figure out why so many flashlights include a strobe mode. One application that I read about involves using a strobe light mode for tactical purposes: evidently a flashing light is more confusing to a perpetrator than a solid beam. It throws them off guard, giving you the advantage. I can definitely attest to that. Every time I accidentally enter strobe mode it screws up my vision for a few seconds until I quickly change modes back again.

A flashing light is also said to make pedestrians more visible to passing motorists while walking on the side of the road in the dark. I might agree with this, if the strobe modes weren’t so bright. Have you ever actually tried this? It’s disorienting — the last thing you want while walking around several thousand pound vehicles.

Lastly, a flashlight’s strobe mode can be used for signalling or location applications. This might sound reasonable, but I think the momentary on/off switch I mentioned before would be more useful, and can also even be used to send Morse code.

So my question: Am I missing something? Why would you cripple the operation of a flashlight for such edge case uses. Is there a better reason for taking a perfectly functional flashlight and make it aggravating for 99% of people who use it?

About Benjamen

Benjamen Johnson grew up watching his dad work as a contractor and woodworker. He became an electrical engineer and took an interest in woodworking. Check out Ben's projects at Ben's Workshop or follow him on twitter or instagram.

65 Comments

I have had the same feelings in regards the strobe mode. I hate it when you have to move through when using a flashlight. I’ve seen it reported some people say it’s for trying to startle someone that might be breaking into a house. (seems crazy to me) As for using it walking, might be more dangerous. I have heard law enforcement officers and two truck drivers report that flashing lights tend to draw the attention of distracted and drunk drivers-hence more likely to be hit by them.

Strobe mode on high end tac lights or duty lights is designed to disorient a suspect. When your being strobed at night time with something like 1,000 lumens it not only disorients you but it messes with your depth preception so you dont know how far the person that is strobing you is.

I Was going to buy that mikwakee usb rechargable headlamp but it had too many modes and a stupid strobe mode. Why would i need a strobe mode on a head lamp?! Maybe if i was 18 years old and ate paint chips for fun and wanted to go to a rave?
Having the ability to have Strobe mode is useful on my rifle. It is not useful on my milwaukee lights that are designed for work, which i why i dont own milwakee lights lol.

The phenomenon you’re describing is called target fixation. It’s pretty interesting because a flashing light actually makes this problem worse than a steady light. So it’s arguably safer to just use a steady bright light than a flashing one for walking/cycling.

I’m with the author on this, strobe mode seems unnecessary at best and downright annoying at worst. Honestly, in a tactical situation with all the adrenaline and everything else, the last thing you’d think about is scrolling through the multiple modes on your flashlight to land on strobe. Half the effectiveness of something like that would be the element of surprise, and sitting there fumbling with the multi-press button kind of kills that.

It’s very rare that Strobe mode and SOS mode are needed. Personally I haven’t had to use either. However if there is a Strobe mode on any flashlight then it should be readily accessible. I don’t really understand the one button mode that cycle through all the mode including strobe. It’s one of those thing that you either don’t need or when you need, you need it immediately.

That’s why I think very highly of the NiteCore Smart Ring series. I personally own the Srt7. I never had to cycle through the mode. The Strobe mode is on one end of the ring, the SOS mode is at the other end. So I never had to cycle through either of these mode in my daily use. It’s a physical ring that you can turn… so you don’t have to cycle through the mode. You can dial the mode that you want prior to turn on the flash light. It’s so simple and intuitive to use. The whole user experience is so beautifully done. I love it.

We live in a large city, but our neighborhood streets do not have sidewalks. My wife and I walk after work, and have the need to make drivers aware we are there during the Winter months because of the darkness. In our area, we have young and old drivers. The younger drivers are usually going fast on the surface streets. As soon as we click on the strobe feature, we get an immediate reaction. Most slow down, but all move over to give us space. We use our strobe function a lot.

Agreed. I would use it walking the dog at night because I live next to a bend in the road with poor visibility and nobody drives the posted speed limit. The other night I was on the other end of a strobing headlight on a bicycle. Got my attention real quick, which was good because he was driving on my side of the road heading toward me (pet peeve).

But implementation is key, cycling through all the modes including strobe is dumb. The nitecore above sounds interesting.

Agreed- required for after dark activities like walking the dog. That said, it does seem like there are too many companies that are trying to cram every imaginable feature into their lights- and they neglect the most basic part, a quality bulb/led and resilient body. I have so many lights that have been dropped once that are damaged or never work properly again!

A much safer alternative is a high visibility/reflective vest and a RED strobe. I’ve come up on people walking at night with flashlights and still barely see them. I don’t know why you would go out for a walk at night wearing camo or all black (Oregon coast thing?) But people around here seem to think it’s cool. The strobe function just looks to me like another blinking light on a house, fence, tree, business, etc.

I would say it only makes sense on a purpose tactical or emergency light.

I mean we keep strobe lights on emergency equipment, rafts, life vests, etc as you spot that from a distance and it gets attention. Which is great if you have to ditch a plane 60 miles off the coastline.

I’m quite a flasaholic type person and find the strobe flashes completely useless and annoying. But it’s getting harder to find a good flashlight without this feature. I do have flasher type lights in my glove box and trunks for roadside emergencies.

There are LOTS of very good flashlights available nowadays. I have no use for strobe and will not consider purchasing a light that has strobe in the main sequence of modes. Fortunately, I think we’ll be seeing more flashlights with programmable modes, one benefit of which would be no strobe if you don’t want it.

knowing a little about the electronics industry, I’m betting some big mfr in China makes the cheap chipset that controls all of the lights in this price class. Making hundreds of millions for a few cents a piece. They sell them to other manufacturers that kit all the rest of the parts and the final process is painting someones name on the tube. Thats why they all work the same.
When you find one that works differently, then the price is doubled since they are using something other than the $.75 kit.
I’m not knocking the process, but thats how we get these incredible devices for such a low price. I really dont think Milwaukee has a flashlight factory.

I generally find a strobe mode useless, but do use it occasionally when working with a helper to identify a location smoke a drop ceiling or confirm that a hole had been drilled into the proper wall cavity. But I find flashlights that require me to cycle through multiple modes of any kind just to turn the light off to be intolerable.

I own many high-end tactical flashlights, fortunately non of them have a strobe mode. I think if you’re one of the very rare and few people that need a strobe mode you should have to search it out, not the other way around.

The only lights I have that have a strobe mode are the cheap “2000 lumen” lights that actually have about the same output as a quality 600 lumen flashlight, and I don’t use them regularly.

Huh. I woulda thought that a ” high-end tactical” light would always have a strobe by which to stupefy the baddies.

Especially since, in your next sentence, you imply that a good tactical strobe would be something significantly more than what we see on the usual lights, which, based on the pointless strobes in a couple of my lights, seems exactly right.

Good tactical flashlights have one feature, momentary on momentary off. The operater can apply the strobe as needed. As an 11 year police officer I have found that I hate the built in strobe features. They produce predictable patterns, albeit bright and fast.

Never. In fact I absolutely hate any headlamp or flashlight with two or more modes. Headlamps are the worst about this. Especially the ones with strobe or red green blue lights. Absolutely useless. In fact I won’t buy a flashlight or headlamp that has more than on and off. On and off should be the only modes. That’s it! I shouldn’t have to click the button 5 times to turn off my headlamp. Plus strobe lights are known to trigger seizures for the epileptic. Not good. And I’m not stupid enough to put myself in a situation to where I need a strobe light to flag someone down for help. If you need a strobe flashlight it should come with only two modes: on and off.

Hilarious, I was contemplating that myself today. I was making sure I had charged up all my flashlights and rechargeable work lights, since I want to be sure I am prepared for the winter weather.
Personally, I have no day-to-day use for flashing mode. I also have no use for the adjustable brightness modes. I’d love a flashlight with a single on off (full power) switch. And then if they really feel the need to add more features, please add a different button/switch for all other modes. 99% of the time all I need is full power and having to hit a button several times to turn a device off is infuriating. Since LEDs are very efficient, and modern batteries have lots of juice, I am not all that worried about running at half power just to get more run time. It seems like the manufacturers are competing over the ability to list the most number of modes (mostly un-wanted) , or the longest run time (by using low-power modes). However in the end most of us just want a plain old flashlight.

There are only 2 reasons I know of to use strobe mode. 1. To disorient someone, when led lights first came to market they were marketed to military, law enforcement and especially corrections where a flashlight is the only weapon they are allowed to carry, it actually changed there training, at the same time weapon mounted home defense lights were marketed to civilians, all for the same purpose, to disorient someone.

Reason 2 is similar to number 1, it’s to get someone’s attention, I drive a tractor trailer at night and I can’t count how many times I’ve “tuned out” a small flashlight, but a strobing light grabs your attention instantly.

I carry a small 1 AA do focusable led light that they sell on amazon for $1.50 that does not have strobe, but I also keep a nice 18650 powered led light that has strobe in the truck, because nothing will grab people’s attention like a strobing light.

But I agree it’s dumb to have strobe on the average light, it’s just another example of manufacturers adding tactical features to something.

Came as a surprise — and an annoyance— with some Anker lights on Amazon. The only purposeful uses I’ve had are 1) “honey, wanna see something annoying?” 2) fun with video conferences coworkers and 3) my Confuse A Cat franchise.

So you’re annoyed by the tacticool function as well? I’ve only had a few lights that I’ve really liked the way the strobe was implemented a la difficult to activate.

Maglite ML125 which had four function sets which 3 settings each. So you could have high, low, strobe, SOS and momentary mixed. F1 is high, low, and strobe. F2 full, low, sos. Etc…
Very difficult to change the function by accident as you have to hold the button, remove the battery and then reinsert. Battery changes didn’t make it lose it either.

Maglite ML50. High, low and strobe. However you didn’t cycle through every time. Press the button once for high – then once to turn off. A rapid 2 click turn on entered low. Then strobe was 3 rapid clicks. Fairly straightforward once you use it and very rarely accidental activation.

Semi okay are Convoy flashlights. They blink after 5 sec or something when you first turn them on to the low setting and then you press the switch again and now it goes to the other function. F1 is high, med, low, strobe, sos. F2 is just high, med, low. I like it but sometimes easy to change it by accident.

I like the Milwaukee M18 lantern where you have a strobe built in but you have to hold the button for 2+ seconds before it gets activated. I don’t know if I’ll ever use it but for a roadside emergency or something it could be useful since it’s a 360 degree light. It seems slower than the full blown “tactical” seizure modes too.

Old Surefire light has 3 modes. On, momentary, and off. Nothing fancy and it’s truly built and sold for professionals.

I guess with the way electronics are today it’s cheap enough to just include it in there but personally I’d rather have it difficult to access like the Mag or the M18 lantern. I’d actually really like if instead of seizure strobe they make a slower flash mode like your vehicle 4 ways.

I do actually use the strobe mode on my 4 sevens 2xAA light. It’s my bike headlight and i sometimes use it at dawn/dusk in dangerous street situations. I also use it to better broadcast my position (a “be seen” mode instead of a “see and be seen” mode) when i suddenly run out of batteries (regulated lights are funny that way) and the light dims to a fraction of what it was a few minutes before.

I don’t mind having the strobe because it’s only sharing the mode rotation (half-press the button) with Turbo mode, which is what i use as for normal bike headlight purposes. I tighten or loosen the head to switch between that rotation and low-medium-high-moonlight and the truly useless mode (so far): SOS.

SOS could obviously be very useful but in such extremely unlikely circumstances that i would rather not have it.

Flashing bike headlights are certainly the only time I’ve seen a useful flashing LED function. Didn’t motorcycles also have something similar on some incandescent headlights? (Ramp-up & cool-down were too slow to be called “flashing” though.) In both cases, I find them to be certainly noticable.

Does a bright flashing bike headlight mess with your perceptions as a rider though?

It’s not a good effect in darkness with full brightness, so that’s why i use the strobe mode when the batteries are almost depleted, or at dawn/dusk. There has been quite a bit of commentary in the bicycling community on the potential for strobing lights to disorient or distort depth perception of drivers, making them undesirable, but if i light is so dim it will not be seen on steady mode, strobe mode is an improvement.

I am glad flashlights have a strobe and SOS feature. I do not like the one button interface on most flashlights. Strobe should be easily accessible in a hurry and access to it should be simple because if one is being attacked, one probably won’t have the clarity of mind nor the time to cycle through half a dozen modes and brightness settings to access it. This is why I say strobe is a pointless feature in MOST flashlights that have it because when it is needed most people will not be able to realistically access it. Strobe should be linked to a separate button. 1 click for strobe, a second click for SOS. Thus removing the clutter from the most used simple brightness functions.
Regarding interfaces, the best flashlight interfaces I’ve ever seen or used are on Zebralights and on flashlights like the Sunwayman M11R. Zebralights have a user programmable interface and these flashlights have a lot of modes and brightness settings. However, most of these modes can be programmed to be hidden. I program mine to have a simple moonlight, medium and high. Press to instantly access the brightest level, hold to start cycling through from the lowest setting. Great so you don’t blind yourself in the middle of the night. It sounds complicated but it quickly becomes fast and easy to access the mode you want. Otherwise you can use it as a simple on off light if you desire. The Sunwayman uses a magnetic rotating bezel which starts from low, then medium and high. You just turn it. Very simple and fast, basically analog. In either of these lights strobe and SOS would be better with a separate button that some manufacturers have figured out.
Why no one mentions Zebralights on ToolGuyd is beyond me.

I should mention that many flashlights have strobe and SOS thrown in there even though access to strobe is unrealistic is because it often makes a flashlight more sell-able. More lumens and more settings = better, at least when it comes to many consumers buying flashlights, especially first time buyers or people buying them as gifts.

The strobe feature was basically just a marketing gimmick that took something LEDs did well (brief and rapid high intensity) that older incandescent bulbs didn’t, so it helped sell LED flashlights when they were cutting-edge tech to those who would pay a lot for them.

These days, it’s still the tacti-cool Macho wanna-be soldier types that like this kind of stuff. Military-ish appearance flashlights with features to use in case of some sort of attack, as if that’s gonna help or anyone would have the presence of mind to click a switch several times to use it.

I’d rather lights with multi-mode switches include a high, low, and ultra-low long battery life mode rather than a strobe.

If I need a light to flash or strobe, I can do it myself by rapidly turning the light side to side – something I can do very easily in an instant, rather than trying to do the correct amount of clicks to get into a strobe mode.

It’s more likely I’ll be using the light body itself as a weapon if there’s a physical threat, so a strobe mode just risks the possibility of blinding yourself rather than giving you much advantage. Much better to blind an attacker with the full lumens of the high beam, then either go at it with the light off, or take your chances leaving it on and hoping you don’t beam yourself in the process.

If anyone really cares about getting this strobe mode off flashlights, do something about it like complain to the manufactuers of the lights you do purchase or planned to purchase.

As long as stuff with a strobe mode keeps selling well and the wanna-be’s keep driving the market, the manufactuers are going to keep it on there until enough of the regular consumers complain and let them know we’re not buying stuff with a strobe mode anymore.

I have a Jetbeam RRT01, it’s the best flashlight I have. The variable ring interface is the only way I like to have flashlights. This one is great, it has a hidden SOS mode; turn the ring back and forwards rapidly 3 times and it goes into SOS mode. It then allows variable brightness while in that mode. Turn the flashlight off to reset it back to normal mode.

When using Dark Repellant I want 2 switch conditions: full dark or full light, with a switch that’s easily manipulated with bare hands or gloves of reasonable thickness and flexibility. When I need light I need every frickin’ lumen the thing has, not a carousel ride.

I can see the advantage of a strobe under certain conditions, butIi do not want it in my “ready use” flashlights. On. Off. That’s it. If I have a need for strobing, or dim/bright, I’ll buy a device specifically for that. The new Maglite AAs are a PITA – turn the head for “on” and you’re never sure what you’ll get: dim, bright, strobe, whatever.

It’s clear that most strobe flashlights fall in that huge category of “tools that were never used but their designers”. A strobe is good feature but only accessed by a separate button. Variable rate would be nice too; twice a second to get attention while saving batteries and 30 times per second for the “startle” mode.

Outside the tool world, I have an 800 lumen bicycle headlamp with a strobe that works like magic to make drivers notice in the daytime. At night there’s another strobe function that gives a high brightness pulse while still providing continuous medium brightness light. This is attention getting without being disorienting.

That light also shows other signs of having been used in the real world by its designers.

I want a light that turns on and off – period. Having to cycle through high, low, strobe, and then off is a royal pain. I have one flash light that does this – I keep it if I ever need a strobe light but that’s it.

Have found several lights at the local HD I thought about buying until I saw the high, low, strobe modes. No thank you

Strobe mode is for a tactical flash light and is a defense tactic, as such it works great. Putting it on some tool branded light is stupid and useless. Most people , like you don’t understand or want it so it should not be on 90% of flashlights. “Flash and smash” is a good option with the right light and the right frame of mind.

I have a headlamp that has many modes including red light so not to ruin night vision, the only problem with this is it is the last mode so you have to cycle through High, Low, Strobe, and finally red light. Please illuminate the people who make these things that the red should come on first. Thank you for your consideration.

I’ve used strobe twice. Once when I was waiting for a tow truck in a busy downtown area. It set me apart from my surroundings immediately – worked great.
Second time was just yesterday. Neighbor’s friggin dog that barks at leaves, stars in the sky, wind…. He saw some kids walking their dog and went ape sh! +. I stepped around the corner of my garage and shined the strobe at him. I was about 50′ away. He didn’t like it but he didn’t stop. I slid the housing forward into the tight square beam and shined it at him again. That did the trick! He broke and ran to the other side of their house.
Every morning, 6:30am, neighborhood alarm clock.

Two strobe settings, red light and five brightness settings all in sequence on one button would be awesome! Love pressing buttons, especially when trying to illuminate something…super fantastic. When I was a kid my flashlight turned on when I pressed the button and then off when pressed it again. Way to simple and convenient, it’s way better now. More is better. I wish someone could make it so that every switch in my house cycled through at least three settings.

I hate the strobes. I have two great flashlights that plug into the outlet and go on if the power goes out. I always know where they are., plugged into the wall, so they are the most used. Great in every way except the cycling and the strobes, that is. I get blinded by the strobes periodically. Also the button shows high, low, off, and auto. What it doesn’t show is that at some of these settings there cycling and a strobe, too. You can never figure it out. Perhaps a lengthy training session like they have in the workplace should be required to own one of these flashlights. You should study the manual carefully and if you can navigate the buttons in the right order, you will be allowed to own the flashlight. . .

Strobes, what nonsense. Perhaps for middle-schoolers they seem like fun. Who designs this garbage?

Also Amazon carries a zillion makes and models of the same 18650 headlamps. Cheap to buy. Lots of recharging options… although a separate charger is the only option for not cooking the batteries. They only last a season… destroyed two…but awesome for winter darkness chores.

I’ve never needed the strobe feature but every time I check out a weird sound outside I turn it on and press the face of the flashlight against the wrist of my hand holding my weapon so that if I come across someone I can blind them 1st with the strobe feature.

I have a feeling that there are only so many factory that produce led flashlight/led flash light components. A majority of them produce tactical flashlight because that’s where the money is at. Beside the off the mill less than $5 flash light. If a simple light is all you need that $5 light might just fit the bill. For anything else it’s probably whatever the client wanted.

Having worked for many large corporation in the past, I have witness that the decision maker usually never use the tool. So after received the spec/feature request from the factory. After an hour meeting it probably goes something like let just checked all the box just to be safe. Since those feature doesn’t cost anything extra. After all a $15-$50 flashlight are usually expensive enough to warrant more “feature” but not expensive enough for any usability testing. So strobe are one of those feature that come for free 🙂

I have seen a few comments recommend other flash light with the magnetic ring feature. I am aware of them I just happen to own the NiteCore Srt7. If you need a flash light with more than one mode, it’s hard to find a better way to select those mode using something else other than the magnetic ring interface. At least I haven’t seen it.

I have selected the Srt7 for several reason. It have SOS, Red, Adjustable brightness, and Strobe mode with the smart ring. Those are all the must have mode for me. The nice thing about the smart ring is that it’s can be adjusted while the flashlight is on and off. It have positive detent and stop. That mean if I turn it all the way clockwise it’s Strobe mode. It will stop at Strobe mode. It won’t turn all the way. That mean if I want Strobe mode I will get it. All the way to the left it’s SOS mode.

The mode goes like this SOS, Red/Blue, Blue, Green, Red, Stand by, Variable brightness, Max, Strobe. Each have a very positive detent that you can feel while turning. Most of the time I left it at the variable brightness mode. I can turn it off, then red very easy. or Strobe is also easily accessible yet I never have to cycle through it. For me red light is probably the second most used feature beside the variable brightness. Red mode is right before the variable mode so it’s also readily available. I know it’s minor details but I have found it exceptionally useful.

Since I always left the mode at variable brightness, I can turn it two detent counter clockwise and it’s red. Since it’s a ring any other mode can also be access quickly. There is no need to pause between click. I simply turn the ring at the desired speed. I love the physical feedback and I love the intuitive interface. Very very well designed.

It’s to preserve night vision. It’s also typically used in low light application. The other color make certain things stand out. For example blue light suppose to make it easier to see blood. I don’t hunt or fish so I can’t verify that claim but certain type of color are easier on the eye for certain application. Since the brightness is adjustable I usually just stick with white light. Being able to adjust the brightness certainly make it a lot easier to see. Too much light is not always a good things.

The SRT7 topped out at 960 lumen. That’s about all I need for most thing. The SRT9 topped out at 2150 lumen and it also have an ultraviolet mode. That one is on my wishlist but for now the Srt7 has met all my need and then some.

If you need a strobe for military / LEO purposes you’re going to buy a reputable light that is designed or programmable to always start up in strobe or full power as appropriate, non of this multi-press or button fumbling rubbish.
If you need a good strobe for traffic avoidance, buy a decent bike light. There are some great ones around, but remember the point that strobes mean that a car may see you but is also at risk of misjudging how far away you are.
There are some emergency applications for a flashing light around accident and emergency, but on most flashlights this is just an annoying marketing gimmick.

As a “tool” type of light, the “claymore LED” rechargeable lanterns (google for them) made by the leading manufacturer Prism in Korea are fantastically useful. Sold for camping these versatile and make great work lights. Variable brightness, even flood beam, long run time and rechargeable. They are much more compact than the versions designed around powertool batteries.
I keep mine inside a clear food storage box to make it extra dust, dirt and waterproof. Handy when you have to fix a problem at night while its raining …

Yaaas! My streamlight uses the same method of half depressed to change modes and it’s sequence is High-Strobe – Low. So every time I want to use Low (most of the time) I have to cycle through the strobe. Very frustrating.

Driving the other day, I saw some super-bright-flashy-thingy I thought must have been a neuralizer. Turned out to be a truck breakdown, with a flashlight laying in the road on the strobe setting. Don’t remember anything else.

I have owned a few lights with the feature, but I have never found it useful. The one good light I have with it (Fenix PD35) involves pressing and holding the mode switch for at least a second, and it is a mix of fast and slow flashes. I do find them to be disorienting, but I am not sure I would use it in a tactical situation as I think it would distract me as much as them. Maybe it could be used to distract someone who is drunk or high and have them vomit? I don’t get it. I would the use of a slower flash to activate as a beacon if lost or hurt, but not something as fast as a strobe.

I have gotten to the point that I will not buy a light if it is not a “forward clicky” or have a”momentary on” feature. Other methods just irritate me now. I like to have the ability to change intensity as well, but not 100% necessary.

I got a Streamlight Stylus Pro for Christmas and it is much easier to carry than some of the others I own so it has been with me most of the time. I am looking for a 2 AAA form that has the forward clicky with multiple intensities, which can be a challenge to find, but I beleive one is coming in this week!

HATE it. I can see any usage for out outside law enforcement (LE). What percentage of us buying these are LE? And what percentage of LE would ever use this function? It’s a feature for 98% of us will never use (I got that number by taking the percentage of LEOs to general population and then assumed an LE is 100x more likely to buy a higher end flashlight.)

I hate having to cycle through the Strobe mode to turn the flashlight on or off. Up until reading some comments here about enhanced visibility / awareness and disorientation I didn’t think there was any use for it.

I am fine with what I have for now but I will definitely be choosing my next flashlight based on optional activation of Strobe.

Personally, I hate switches on the tailcap. I’m used to putting my AA maglite in my mouth so I have both hands free-for close work. Tailcap switches eventually short out. So, even though I have an AAA led light that’s quite a bit brighter, I still carry my maglite.

As always, it is interesting to see such a wide swath of comments both pro and con. None are right and none are wrong, just different strokes for different folks. I agree cycling through can be annoying but the one time I’ve used it on my Milwaukee 700 lumen, it did what it was supposed to do, got the attention of passing motorist. Hey, I have rarely used my Class III Safety Vest, highway flares and warning triangles either but when I have, they’ve done what the were supposed to do. Don’t let cycling prevent you from purchasing a really tough, bright and high quality, rechargeable light. OBTW, I invested in a couple of spare batteries and the charger. They have come in handy during hunting and camping trips. To each his own, to strobe or not to strobe.